The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1887-01-18
LINCOLN'S OLD HOME.

every reference to Lincoln of sacred interest
in the eyes of loyal Americans: and it
with something akin to veneration that
visited his old home in Springfield a short
time since. The house stands to-day sub
stantialy as Lincoln left il. few necessary
repairs have been made few rooms have
been papered, but no alterations marked
changes are 10 lie seen Ii is not an imposing
looking house-nobody would think of call
ing it "a mansion. Ii is somewhat weather
worn; coat of paint would add greatly to
its Looks IL is simply plain twelve room
frame house, with gable roof, standing high
up from the street. The house stands ON the
corner of Jackson and Eighth streets. The
yard, which is small, is three four feet
above the level of the street, and is entered
by flight of stone steps which are cut into
the walls surrounding the lot. Upon the
whole, the place would scarcely excite pass
ing notice were it not for the large gilt sign
over the front door: Lincoln Residence"
The inside of the house hardly merits a
minute description. 1t is substantial in its
looks but plain and unpretentous. Roughly
speaking, the rooms symmetricaly
ranged either side of hall which runs
through the middle of tue house, there being
six rooms each of the two stories. The
visitors interest naturally centers about three
ROOMS. These the two rooms on the left
of the hall you enter and one of the up
. stairs D<ttfOOiLs-tnt Deen
converted into a Lincoln museum, and
the hitter into museum. These
museums are the property of MIR. Odroyd
who now holds the house by lease. The col
lections are strictly private, though MIR. Old
royd delights to show them to friends and
strangers
MAKING A COLLECTION.
Mr. Oldroyd, who is member Of the
Grand Army of the Republic, began to make
his collection when he was a soldier in the
army, where he used to pick up war relics,
war songs, Illuminated envelopes and the like
and send them home. Later, from sheer ad-
miration Of MIR. Lincoln he began to gather
mementoes of the martyred president, so that
to-day he has over ZOO different articles
especially pertaining To Mr. Lincoln. MIR. Old
royd admits that he is something of a crank
ON the subject of his favorite hero, but he has
spent hundreds of dollars his special
hobby, and to-day never loses an opportunity
Of getting a new relic of interest for his col
lection. No more interesting spot can be
found than this old home of Lincoln, replete
as it Is with memories Of the great man, and
hallowed as IL is by the presence of Oldroyds
collection.
The two rooms devoted to the Lincoln
museum are separated only by an archway
Scarcely an article OF furniture is admitted
into the rooms except it belonged to Lincoln
ret1OIent IAincOtns FSpocl-
ally noticeable two rosewood sofas Gov
cred with haircloth and two large rocking
chairs to match, All old bedroom stand, an
old fashioned settee, a couple of plain wooden
chairs, and a huge walnut cradle, with solid
foot and head boards. These all belonged to
Lincoln Robert and the rest of the children
were rocked IN the cradle. 1t doesn't require
a great stretch of the imagination to see
Lincoln's gaunt form and benignant face
bending over it.
uNCoLNs oFFIGx CHAIR.
Lincoln's office chair also stands there, and
ND against the wall is bookcase made out OF
one OF Lncolns old bedsteads. Lincolns
office chair is = plain hardwood chair of
rather uncomfortable appearance. OF course,
we sat down in II, and in many more Of
the articles enumerated above we could
conveniently. IL we can't walk in the foot
steps of great men it is sometimes a sort of
satisfaction to sit in their sitting places. Es-
pecially conspicuous in the collection Is Lin
coins cook stove. This is the stove
which he used to prepare his own meals. 1t
bears the name Royal Oak" Though some
what rust eaten 1t is in first class condition,
and polished it is. bright polish will
make it, it is OF the most interesting
articles to he seen
Directly i'll the middle of the room stands a
rude stand or writing desk Of Mr.. Oldroyds
own make. Its appearance and history are
too curious not to be mentioned. few
years ago some repairing was done to the
Lincoln residence. Mr.. Oldroyd took piece
Of one of the old joists and had very pretty
inkstand carved from it. He likewise took a
piece Of one of the sils and had . penholder
carved out of it, in shape like = goose quill;
TO this he had fitted gold pen. Then, being
in New Salem, he went to the old house where
Lincoln used to board and obtained some Of
the timbers of the house. These he took
home and made into rude frame, bolting it
together with rough screw bolts. For the
top, which is put ON at the angle at which
writing desk tops are usually put on, he had
made q granite slab Here was unique
Lincoln memorial 1t ought to be- properly
inscribed So MIR. Oidroyd wrote to Whit
tier asking him il he would compose a stanza
of poetry suitable for the stand Whittier
agreed to do Sd. Then Oldroyd expressed to
Whittier the inkstand and penholder above
mentioned with the request that the poet
should use them in the composition of the
verses. This request was carefully observed,
and the poetry, inkstand, and pen sent
back TO Springfield. The verses were duly
inscribed ON the slab; copied them for the
readers benefit:
Let man he free! The mighty word
He spake not his own
The spirit OF the highest stirred
His mortal lips alone.
This writing desk is not ut all handsome,
but we doubt il anything could be devised
more typical Of the rough hewn character of
the great man or more replets with memoir
les of his life.
A SCRAP BOOK
One Of the most interesting relics Of the
collection is a scrap book which was made by
Miss L. Williams, of Rockford, Ills. This
book is filed with newspaper clippings, giving
a detailed account of the funeral procession
from Washington to Springfield How the
papers were procured do not know, but
the clippings begin with account of the
obseqries as given by the Washington papers.
This is followed by n detailed account Of the
funeral procession, as reported by all the
local papers of the places at which the funeral
train touched The book is very neatly made,
and the account thus given Is of exceptional
interest. Miss Williams denurrel for q long